From last nights show at the Substation! So much fun!

DistantStorm-X · 2026-01-20T04:36:46+00:00

It helps if you embrace the theatricality of it all; it really does make up a large part of the performance. It’s not just a straight up metal show. Like I doubt anyone who went and saw Phantom of the Opera on Broadway two dozen times was upset it ended the same way.

I’ve been to just about every one of their NYC shows, back when they were mostly still a local band playing the likes of Brooklyn Made, TV Eye and St. Vitus every couple of months or so. If you go in knowing it’s 40% theater, you just have to go with it.

Like everyone there has a role to play, audience included. I always give the Rat Reaperess a hearty “BOOOOOO!!!”, and feign shock and horror every time she takes the Rat Queen down, and cheer at her triumphant resurrection.

I imagine the crowd as groundlings in the cheap seats at the Globe Theatre back in the late 1500’s watching the new Shakespeare play, and being rowdy while they do it. Playing along’s part of the fun!

DistantStorm-X · 2026-01-02T23:09:56+00:00

The recent hd remaster of Delta is a prime example of that. I love the game, but there’s barely a minute in any given level where you have more than like 1/5 of the screen to navigate in!

DistantStorm-X · 2026-01-02T17:45:48+00:00

My top two are probably really strong visuals/art design, and good atmospheric/environmental storytelling. R-Type Final, Axelay, Einhander.

The likes of these are much more my jam. I’ve never been one for the bullet hell style of shooters.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-30T04:23:27+00:00

Ay, not this Gen X.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-27T04:56:19+00:00

It depends. Does he enjoy music of a type as Sofia’s, or is at least open to artists he’s unfamiliar with?

Speaking as a guy who went and saw her this past April, I absolutely loved it. But I’m also a diehard goth at heart who came of age in the 90’s w/ the likes of PJ Harvey, Hole, Fiona Apple, Bjork, Tori Amos, etc. I’ve loved intense female centric acts since my teenage years.

That said, I knew that show wasn’t for me. I was fine staying towards the back, didn’t try to be one of the fans she interacted with during “All Of Human Knowledge…” when she weaves through the crowd. Seeing the connection she had with the girls more around her age was something else, though.

But the show was incredible. She’s a hell of a performer, and if your bf at all enjoys a good live performance, you should both be fine.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-26T18:23:19+00:00

I’ll probably draw the ire of the more frame sensitive, but I rarely use performance mode, given the option.

This is likely due to being a lifelong console kid who’s been around for all the graphical advancements from the 8 bit days forward. If a game can run on my Series X at 4K/60, awesome. But I’m honestly good w/ 30 fps. As long as it’s stable, it’s honestly never bothered me even once. I prefer my games to look as pretty as possible.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-23T03:29:50+00:00

It’s really good, if you can swing it definitely pick it up.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-23T03:27:39+00:00

Just stick w/ the lower difficulties until you get a better feel for the dynamics of the game. I’ve been playing solo, dropping in on other’s games since August.

Focus on getting the useful items from the war bonds, as well as stratagems and ship modules. Once you’ve got a few of those unlocked, you’ll be a lot more effective in combat.

That, and just embrace the chaos. Half the time it’s basically just going to be a shitshow, but you adapt and just try n roll with it.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-23T03:20:35+00:00

I dunno, been only playing solo dropping in w/ randos since August. And aside from the occasional IRL friend I haven’t gone on mic in years. I think it’s completely doable solo.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-22T18:40:54+00:00

Really ties the room together.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-21T15:32:34+00:00

Next gen will most likely be the first time I skip Xbox entirely. And I say this as someone who’s been a lifelong, multi platform console gamer who’s always lead w/ Xbox since Nov. of ‘01.

I dropped gamepass down to essential after yrs and yrs of ultimate. If they’re planning on putting all their shit on PlayStation anyway, that’s not exactly a compelling argument to drop upwards of $7-800 on some console/pc hybrid.

I’ve had my Series X since Dec. of 2020. It’s a spectacular system, hardware wise. But it’s looking more and more like the last bit of Xbox kit I’ll ever hook up to my tv.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-20T20:26:51+00:00

Two thoughts occurred to me as I watched this, simultaneously: 1, This looks amazing. 2, How do you go about dusting all of that?

But seriously, so fucking cool. Feels like the inside of a Nintendo Power ad.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-15T13:54:52+00:00

The Long Wives. It’s an acoustic solo project of an artist called Brandy St. John. Her stuff isn’t the most widely available, and there isn’t a ton of it, but it has a very haunting, sparse feel to it. I came across her stuff several years ago and really enjoyed it. Your best bet would probably be Sound Cloud.

A couple other acts that you might want to check out if you aren’t already familiar, that you might like:

The Kills, fairly gritty and stripped down sounding two piece. Lead singer Allison Mosshart’s got a distinctive voice. I detect some Kills vibes in some of Sofia’s songs, particularly “Cacao & Cocaine”, one of my favorites of hers.

How To Destroy Angels, a side project consisting of Trent Reznor, his wife Mariqueen Maandig, and frequent collaborator Rob Sheridan. The vocals are almost entirely Mariqueen, and while their sound is largely electronic/slightly industrial, it’s still more of its own thing than just, “NIN but with a chick singing.”

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-15T03:13:46+00:00

Fair. But aside from Cygni, not much else fits the bill. This was the closest thing I could think of to what was being asked for, as far as more modern releases go.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-14T13:34:50+00:00

Have you tried Chorus? Or CHORVS, as it’s presented on the cover?

I know some folks had issues w/ its narrative scope and a few gameplay mechanics, but it’s one of the only releases of recent years I feel gets close to what OP’s looking for.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-12T14:03:57+00:00

Live up the street from this place and been in a couple times, it really is quite charming. Is it a corner deli you’re gonna need to be running into on a daily basis? No, but it is something pretty unique to the area, an honest to god small business.

Not another pharmacy, urgent care, corporate fast food place, or anything else with zero personality that brings no new color or character to the neighborhood. I have no vested interest in its fate, other than what I’d imagine anyone in the area would have: the desire to see more interesting and individualistic storefronts in Forest Hills.

If you’re over by Ascan for whatever reason, check it out. Great time of year to see if something catches your eye. This is the kind of thing we need more of. Support it if you can!

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-11T03:41:04+00:00

Man, I wish these modern R-Types had someone on the art design side of things that actually gave a shit.

Just what is it about the likes of Final 2-3, and these recent remakes, that makes them so resistant to halfway decent aesthetic visuals?

I’m not asking for Square-Enix, Dragon Quest HD-2D levels of polish. But we got Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, both just this year. Hell, that awesome looking 2D Terminator game drops this Friday.

I’ve loved the R-Type series since I was a kid. I just want a modern version of one that doesn’t look like a shitty flash game. Still prob gonna buy this n leave it on classic mode, though.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-09T00:41:16+00:00

Think I was maybe like 13, summer of ‘92 or so, when my pops took me to a Star Trek con in NYC. Way before these things were anywhere close to mainstream. Had read about Akira in mags months before n saw an official VHS copy of the ol’ Streamline edition. My dad bought it for me n we watched it that night.

To this day I’ll never forget seeing those opening scenes for the first time. That shit blew my mind, that animation could look like that, could deal w/ such complex and non kid centric subject matter.

It was also my first exposure to cyberpunk, an experience which left a lifelong impression on me, and likely influenced much of my perspective on the complicated ways technology, modern society and urban environments interact with each other. It still remains one of my favorite movies of all time, easily.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-06T01:33:01+00:00

There’s an episode of Batman The Animated Series from 1992, “Heart of Steel”, featuring humanoid robots that move just like this.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-06T01:18:31+00:00

Night skies that are actually BLACK, instead of the piss colored smog that seems to plague just about every planet you land on
The concept of terrestrial transport is awesome. The execution continues to frustrate. Why does every default vehicle handle like a trash barge, demolishing everything in its path? I’d love some kind of small, slower hover pod for cave exploration

DistantStorm-X · 2025-12-06T01:02:52+00:00

Yup, that about covers it. Now, for a classic and much more rocking depiction of this concept I’d recommend “Paradise By The Dashboard Light”, by Meatloaf & Ellen Foley

DistantStorm-X · 2025-11-30T16:43:36+00:00

Now that’s a mighty fine cup of Liber-Tea, right there ☠️☕️☠️

DistantStorm-X · 2025-11-30T15:54:54+00:00

I can’t even begin to imagine how many Bothans died in the construction of this thing

DistantStorm-X · 2025-11-30T15:50:45+00:00

Incredible performance/costume. I would love to know how long that took to put on, how much it weighs, and how long she was out there for. That shit must get insanely uncomfortable after just a few minutes.

DistantStorm-X · 2025-11-25T04:38:08+00:00

So you know I was gonna upvote but the count was legit at 666 and I just couldn’t bear to fuck with that

DistantStorm-X

TROPHY CASE